NBA ROUNDUP \ Wednesday's other games

Wizards 117, 76ers 107 WASHINGTON -- Gilbert Arenas scored 33 points, overcoming a career night from Allen Iverson's replacement as Washington won its fourth straight. Juan Dixon scored 14 of his 22 points in the fourth quarter as the Wizards closed the game with a 20-9 run to win their eighth straight at home and 11th of 13 since New Year's Day. The last four victories have come without Larry Hughes, who has a broken thumb, but Arenas, Dixon and Antawn Jamison (23 points) have more than compensated for the missing points and defense. The 76ers played without Iverson, the NBA's scoring leader, but Willie Green proved a more than able substitute, scoring a career-high 32 points and keeping the game close for 3 1/2 quarters. The game had 11 ties and 16 lead changes until Arenas, Dixon and Jamison spurred the Wizards' late run. Celtics 100, Pacers 86 BOSTON -- Paul Pierce scored 23 points and Raef LaFrentz had 12 points with 11 rebounds, spoiling Stephen Jackson's return from a 30-game brawl suspension. Jackson scored 17 points in 38 minutes in his first game back since the Nov. 19 melee against Detroit. Jermaine O'Neal scored 25 for the Pacers. Gary Payton had 10 points with nine assists and Ricky Davis scored 18 as a reserve for Boston, which won its fourth consecutive home game a night after snapping a nine-game road losing streak. Heat 111, Raptors 96 TORONTO -- Shaquille O'Neal had 33 points and 18 rebounds and Eddie Jones added 23 points. Jones went 8-for-11 from the field for the Heat, who have won just six of their last 12 games. Dwyane Wade had 16 points and 10 assists despite playing with a sore left knee and ankle. Former Heat point guard Rafer Alston had a career-high 29 points and Chris Bosh added a career-high 27 for the Raptors, who had won their previous five home games. Pistons 87, Nuggets 70 AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Ben Wallace had 14 points and 12 rebounds and reserve Antonio McDyess scored 13 to help the Detroit Pistons end a season-high four-game losing streak. The Nuggets dropped their third straight and are 4-10 since hiring interim coach Michael Cooper. Denver reserve Earl Boykins scored 14 points, and Andre Miller and Marcus Camby each scored 10. Timberwolves 104, Hawks 87 MINNEAPOLIS -- Latrell Sprewell scored a season-high 32 points, including 22 in the third quarter, and Kevin Garnett had 17 points and 10 rebounds for the Timberwolves, who have won four straight. Wally Szczerbiak added 18 points and Fred Hoiberg scored 12. Minnesota was without coach Flip Saunders, who stayed home with the flu. Saunders missed the return of Sam Cassell, who came back from a hamstring injury to play for the first time since Jan. 7 and had four points and eight assists. Assistant coach Randy Wittman, who compiled a 62-102 record coaching the Cleveland Cavaliers from 1999-2001, took Saunders' place. Al Harrington had 17 points and 12 rebounds and Antoine Walker scored 15 points for the Hawks. Suns 121, Bucks 115 MILWAUKEE -- Shawn Marion scored 24 points, including 17 in the first half, Amare Stoudemire had 23, Steve Nash 21, Quentin Richardson 18 and Joe Johnson 17 for the Suns. Nash dished out 17 assists and had three steals. Michael Redd led Milwaukee with 27 points, and Desmond Mason added 19. Rockets 82, Hornets 77 NEW ORLEANS -- Tracy McGrady scored 10 of his 33 points to help Houston overcome a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit, and Scott Padgett's late 3-pointer put the Rockets ahead for good. Yao Ming had 12 points and 13 rebounds. Seven of his rebounds were on the offensive end, including three in the fourth quarter to keep alive key possessions during Houston's comeback. Dan Dickau led New Orleans with 23 points and a career-high 10 assists. Nailon and P.J. Brown each finished with 17 points. Jazz 109, SuperSonics 100 SALT LAKE CITY -- Raul Lopez had a career-high 11 assists and matched his best scoring total with 20 points as Utah avoided being swept by Seattle for the first time in 22 years. Andrei Kirilenko scored 12 points and had five blocks in his third game back after missing 26 with a knee injury, and Utah escaped the season series against Seattle with a 1-3 record. Ray Allen led Seattle with 27 points and Antonio Daniels added 25. Matt Harpring scored 17, Carlos Boozer had 14 points and seven rebounds and Gordan Giricek scored 10 for the Jazz. Associated Press

Don't Miss a Story

Sign up for our newsletter to receive daily news directly in your inbox.